* Premier of NSW, Chris Minns, has not followed A.C.T. or Victoria in a state-wide banning of gas connections BUT local innovative Councils are using  their Development Control Plans [DCPs] to ban new gas connections to households/apartments and other buildings!

* Climate change action group 350.org are working directly with local councils to advise and support them in achieving the bans.

* Generally it 's possible for the NSW government Planning Authority to overturn local council development decisions BUT the legal framework to do this does not include any decisions related to human health and wellbeing INSIDE the buildings! [350.0rg]

* This omission provides the basis for Councils  to use their DCPs to pass and uphold decisions related to banning new gas connections!

* THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE FROM HEALTH AUTHORITIES OF THE DANGERS OF BURNING GAS FOR COOKING AND HEATING!!

* UP TO 70% OF THE 'NATURAL' GAS [METHANE]  BEING BURNT IS RELEASED INTO THE SURROUNDING  AIR!

* THE BURNING OF THE GAS  EMITS NITROGEN OXIDE and a small amount of benzine!   [

* Breathing these gases from cooking - and especially unflued heaters - has significant impacts on human health - especially on children and adults with asthmatic and other lung/heart conditions.    

* Using the now undisputable evidence of the serious impacts on human health of burning gas in households at least NINE Councils in NSW have banned new connections of gas from either  2023/2024.

*. The Councils banning new gas connections are:

The City of Sydney: Canada Bay: Canterbury/Bankstown: Inner West: Lane Cove: Parramatta: Ryde: Waverley: and Newcastle.  They follow the bans already in place by the A.C.T.[from november 2023] and Victoria [January 2024]. South Australia is also considering similar bans.  [Switched On, December 19th,2023]

* It is estimated that if all homes in NSW were completely powered by electricity :

                                                                       * Every household would save $430.00/year on energy!

                                                                      * NSW would save $3.7 billion/yr - could be invested in community infrastructure/rebates etc

                                                                     * NSW would reduce their carbon emissions footprint by 24.1 million tonnes/yr. [350.org]

* Given all the evidence available of the serious negative health consequences of burning gas indoors we can only hope that Councils in the northern suburbs and northern beaches of Sydney soon follow the decisions of the increasing number of NSW Councils banning gas connections, and also commit to inclusion of rooftop solar energy systems, in all new developments. 

* Some Councils who have already banned new gas connections are lobbying the Minns government to impose a NSW state-wide ban.

 [David Smith for 'Electrifying Bradfield Inc.]